Chris Kreider’s Matthew Tkachuk revenge not enough to save Rangers in Game 5

The bear was poked. 

And the bear responded. 

Ferociously. 

In the end, though, it just wasn’t enough. 

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One of the pressing subplots entering Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final between the Rangers and Panthers on Thursday night at the Garden was this: How would Chris Kreider respond to being publicly ridiculed by Panthers star winger Matthew Tkachuk? 

Kreider, after the Rangers’ 3-2 overtime loss in Game 4 on Tuesday in Florida, was called out by Tkachuk, Florida’s chattiest trash-talker. 

The Tkachuk tweak was a result of Kreider taking his mouth guard and attempting to throw it into the stands during a brief scrum 48 seconds into the third period Tuesday. 

“I told him that was the best play he made all game,” Tkachuk couldn’t wait to tell reporters with a smirk the day after the incident. 

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An argument can be made that it was the most memorable play Kreider had made in this series. 

Until Thursday night. 

crushing 3-2 loss to the Panthers — a result that leaves the Blueshirts one game from elimination, down 3-2 in the series as it shifts to Florida for Game 6 on Saturday night. 

Kreider’s goal, which was short-handed, was one of the few highlights for the Rangers on a night when they again could not find enough answers against the stingy Panthers defense. 

Kreider stole the puck from Tkachuk — yes, that Tkachuk — on a Florida power play and turned it into a 1-0 Rangers lead 2:04 into the second period. 

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The goal felt like it lifted a heavy cloud of stress from the capacity Garden crowd, which rejoiced.

And Kreider, too.

He hadn’t recorded a single point in the first four games of the series. 

And the goal, Kreider’s eighth of the postseason and second short-handed tally, was a beauty. 

After he pick-pocketed Tkachuk, Kreider passed it to his linemate Mika Zibanejad, who passed it back to him as they whisked into the Florida zone.

From there, Kreider deked Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky with a move to his right and dusted Bobrovsky with a backhander into the open net. 

Kreider hurtled his body into the glass behind the goal in celebration and was mobbed by teammates. 

“He’s fast and when he gets going, I just put the puck in his hands and let him do what he does,’’ Zibanejad said afterward. 

“It was a nice play by Mika,’’ Kreider said inside the dead-quiet home dressing room. “It just felt good to contribute a little bit of offense. It’s just unfortunate we weren’t able to come out on top.’’ 

Rangers coach Peter Laviolette lauded Kreider during an in-game TV interview with ESPN, saying, “He’s a pro. He’s been around, been in a lot of playoff games. He responded very well.’’ 

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Follow The Post’s coverage of the Rangers in the NHL playoffs

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• Rangers eliminated by Panthers in Game 6 as long playoff run falls short of Stanley Cup
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Kreider, who scored 39 goals in the regular season, had been without a goal or an assist in the first four games of the series and entered Thursday’s game with only five shots on goal in the four games. 

It seemed like just yesterday when Kreider produced that memorable third period that makes legends in the Game 6 clincher against the Hurricanes, scoring a natural hat trick to propel the Rangers into this series. 

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Whether that goal breaks him out of his slump we won’t know until Saturday night in South Florida, where the Rangers will need his scoring power more than ever. 

“We’ve got to win one game,’’ Kreider said. “We have to play our best game to give ourselves a chance.’’